Marvel Rising: InitiationReview

Marvel Rising is the latest attempt by the titular entertainment juggernaut to appeal to its shifting consumer demographics, specifically the rising tide of next-generation female superhero fans. Planned as a multi-platform franchise targeted primarily at tweens, this new flagship universe is kicking off with a series of animated shorts that will tie into an 80-minute television movie premiering this fall – and there will undoubtedly be more to come should the endeavor prove successful.

While all this new attention for female heroes is wondrously luxurious, it could run the risk of feeling a little pandering, and perhaps too little, too late, given how long audiences have waited for heroines like Captain Marvel and Black Widow to get their own solo movies. Yet Marvel Rising: Initiation (a six-episode series of shorts that set the stage for the Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors movie), thankfully manages to sidestep those concerns, as the end result genuinely feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air for Marvel, and a promising sign for its future endeavors.

For one thing, Marvel Rising: Initiation operates on the outskirts of the well-known superhero community. Rather than reintroduce Spider-Man’s origin story or spotlight another Avengers team up, this series focuses on Gwen Stacy (Dove Cameron) and the tumultuous early stages of her vigilante career as Ghost-Spider. Her best friend Kevin was murdered by a mysterious superpowered woman who calls herself an Inhuman, her police chief father has the NYPD and SHIELD tracking her down, and she has garage band practice with her best friends to worry about.

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The primary objective here is to sow the seeds of tension for the movie, so there is no attempt to reinvent the wheel in these narrative beats. If you’ve seen one show about a teenager living a double life, you’ve basically seen them all, and arguably the ones you have seen before had a better balance between the civilian/superhero life than exhibited in this short series. Gwen’s time as an ordinary teenage girl lasts one barely five-minute scene and several kinda excessive flashback sequences in total. The rest of her time in all six shorts is spent swinging through the perpetual nighttime skies of New York City.

Additionally, Spider-Gwen comic fans looking for a faithful adaptation of the Earth-65 storyline will find numerous surface references to that universe -- such as all too brief cameos from MJ Watson, Gloria Grant, and Betty Ross -- but none of the deeper substance that made it such an inspired series, despite its own reliance on superhero genre (and Spider-Man specific) tropes.

However, the path to the Marvel Rising universe’s main plotline is paved with a great superhero cast and many much-appreciated establishing character moments. Along with Ghost Spider, Marvel Rising: Initiation includes heroes-in-training like Doreen Green (Milana Vayntrub) aka the Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Kamala Khan’s Ms. Marvel (Kathreen Khavari), and comics newcomer Rayshaun Lucas (Kamil McFadden) as Patriot (not Eli Bradley of Young Avengers fame, which somewhat feels like a missed opportunity to bring in some of Marvel’s other young heroes). Daisy Johnson also moves among these junior heroes as the vaguely older SHIELD agent Quake, her role deftly reprised by Agents of SHIELD actress Chloe Bennet.

Through its main characters, Marvel Rising: Initiation immediately showcases a stunning commitment to racial, gender, and body diversity, the likes of which most media properties fail to achieve in the entirety of their multiyear series runs. Further, thanks to this series’ impressive number of female heroes, all the characters have breathing room to embody different personalities and play off one another. Gwen is snarky, streetwise, and weary in her crusade for justice, and it is touching to see her walls come down when confronted by Daisy’s unquestioning support and Gloria’s justifiable fears of her vigilante persona. Gwen swaps flirty banter with the otherwise serious Rayshaun during his pursuit of her, which shows a surprising lighter side to both characters. And, in the funniest two episodes of the entire series, Gwen can’t help but devolve into childish frustration when up against the “Best Friend Heroes Forever” squad that is the practical Kamala and the zany Doreen. But when it comes to the mysterious Inhuman woman she’s tracking, Gwen is all vicious energy and impulsive, tightly-rendered action.

The animation in particular is one of the strongest components of Marvel Rising: Initiation. It feels like the natural maturation of 2012’s Ultimate Spider-Man animated series (subjectively among the best in superhero cartoon animation), this time with a brighter color palette. Not only does this make the main characters’ costumes and civilian designs stand out, but it also helps compensate for the series’ somewhat one-note backgrounds.

Meanwhile, while the fight scenes are perhaps on understated side in terms of choreography, there are some truly spectacular visual flourishes thrown in to hold your attention. The opening scene in the first episode employs cinematic roaming shots of Gwen in action, and the activation of Gwen’s Spidey sense is reminiscent of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’s incredible example. Plus, since this is at heart a kid’s show, the animation also revels in silly visual gags and quirky physical mannerisms. Doreen and her “Anime Style” fighting techniques are pure creative merriment at their finest.

Despite its narrative shortcuts, it’s best to remember the series' intended audience and their particular needs. When it comes right down to it, Marvel Rising should be a simple introduction to a new wave of superheroes that young girls can relate to, be inspired by, and want to learn more about as fans. In this light, Marvel Rising: Initiation is pretty close to perfect.

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The Verdict

Marvel Rising: Initiation shines as a promising introduction to Marvel’s next class of superheroes, which is made up by richly-characterized female leads. While some viewers might lament the series’ watered-down adaptation of its source material, or find that other shows have better mastered its themes, overall Marvel Rising: Initiation has enough enjoyable material to keep new and seasoned fans alike interested in the forthcoming Marvel Rising universe.